Cascadian Farm Organic Goodness

Gardening and children are a perfect fit. Children love being outside and playing in the dirt. Most are fascinated by plants and flowers, so why not teach them to garden where they can learn about a plant’s life cycle firsthand? There are many benefits to gardening with children. It’s the perfect way to teach them about responsibility, healthy foods and respect for the environment. This has been recognized by many schools across the country, who are incorporating gardening in their curriculum. (Learn more about programs and find great resources for gardening with children at Kids Gardening.)

So how do you encourage your children to garden without making it a chore? I think the most important thing is for them to see how much you love gardening and spend a little time with you in the garden every day. Here are a few more tips for gardening with your children.

1. Let them have their own garden or area - a space that is all their own. Their age will dictate how much you will need to help out with the watering and weeding, but try not to take over.
2. Allow them to choose the plants, but steer them towards those that are easy to grow - Lettuces, cherry tomatoes, potatoes and carrots are few favorites. And no child’s garden is complete without quick growing, sunny sunflowers!
3. Start from seed - children enjoy watching seeds sprout up from the soil and they learn so much more than starting from seedling.
4. Have fun! Make time for digging holes and inspecting insects. Don’t forget to express how proud you are of their hard work. Be sure to show off their garden when guests visit your home.

How do you get your children involved with gardening?

Photo by tm-tm

Using photography to help children appreciate our earth

Behind the lens, the world becomes a canvas – and all we have to do is find ways to capture the scenes. As photographers, we become more observant, more curious, more contemplative.

Teaching our children to look at the world with the eye of an artist helps them to look deeper and become more appreciate of the beauty – and damage – before them.

Are your children asking to borrow your camera? Are they grabbing your iPhone to click a picture?

Capitalizing on your child’s budding interest in taking photos can be a wonderful opportunity to help them learn more about nature – and of course introduce them to the incredible world of photography!

Where to start?

It may seem daunting – how does one teach a child the skill of photography, especially if you aren’t already a photographer?

Fortunately we live in a digital age – and photography has never been more accessible!

Here are 3 tips to get your child started taking photos:

1. Provide your child with a user-friendly digital camera that has an auto setting, and is equipped with a zoom lens.

You can choose a point and shoot camera or even an entry-level DSLR for a child who is responsible and old enough to take care of it. DSLRs also have auto settings, so a basic, light weight DSLR is can actually be a reasonable option for an older child if your budget allows. 

I recommend providing a camera with a zoom lens. This will give your child the added creative freedom and excitement of changing their focal length and working on composition. (Of course, using a fixed lens is another creative challenge that they will want to tackle one day too!)

I remember the first camera my dad gave me when I was a teenager. It was a high quality point and shoot with a zoom lens. I fell in love with photography with that camera on a trip to Prince Edward Island. The beautiful landscape was perfect for me to practice composing shots. When my dad saw my photos and praised me for my good eye, it meant the world to me.

Several years later, when he died, I inherited his Canon EOS SLR and lenses. It was before the Digital SLRs were available and so I “cut my teeth” on that film SLR, shooting my son’s first three years of life with my dad’s camera.

2. Teach your child the basics – and no worries, the internet can help!

The art and skill of photography takes a lifetime to learn. But everyone needs to start somewhere! It is amazing how a few basic concepts can radically improve anybody’s photos – even a child’s!

Teaching your child photography tips like “The Rule of Thirds,” getting in close, and checking their backgrounds, can empower them and help them to surprise you with their shots!

Digital Photography School.com has a great post about lessons to teach your child about digital photography. It also links to more of their posts that explain the concepts in greater detail which is perfect for an older child or teenager or for you to read and teach them. http://www.digital-photography-school.com/13-lessons-to-teach-your-child-about-digital-photography   

3. Let them shoot – and then review the shots with them later

The best way for all of us to improve as photographers is through trial and error. We need to shoot hundreds of shots to get a few that turn out the way we want them to. And the more we experiment, the more we learn.

So encourage your child to get shooting. Remind them that everything from a flower, to an old bridge, to a dirty shoe can be their subject. They are the storytellers and they can tell whatever stories they want to.

Take your child out into nature, on hikes or to parks – wherever you can find for your child to explore with their camera.

When it is time to download the photos and choose what to print, if your child wants you to, sit down with them and talk about the photos together. Listen to your child about what they were trying to achieve and offer encouragement and feedback.

Then celebrate their shots by allowing them to print their favorite photos and make albums for themselves and family members, or even print photo books online.

I am so grateful that my father provided me with cameras and passed on his love of photography to me.

When I have my camera with me I am never bored. Looking at the world through the lens allows me to slow down and look for beauty – and I always can find it somewhere. My camera helps me appreciate, even more, the world around me.

YOUR TURN: Do your children like to take photos? Has it been hard for you to “hand over the camera?” If you are a photographer, how old were you when you first picked up a camera?

Photos by Janice Croze

I love baking for the holidays, and it wouldn't be the same if I didn't include the little people in my life in the fun of rolling out dough, tasting sweet treats and cooking up savory dishes.

Cooking and baking with kids underfoot can be stressful, though, both for you and for them. I've found that having a plan and giving them their own activities to work on throughout the process can help make the time in the kitchen a pleasant time for all.

Here are some age-appropriate ideas for getting your kids involved in the kitchen:

Up to Age 4:

• pour pre-measured ingredients like flour or milk into mixing bowls
• stir dry ingredients together in large bowls
• place cookie cutters in rolled dough and press down with assistance
• smash crackers and cookies into crumbs for crusts with the bottom of non-breakable cups

Ages 5 to 7:

• all of the above, plus…
• cut soft fruits or peel oranges, clementines or potatoes
• measure dry ingredients with cups and spoons and add to mixing bowls
• wash fruits and vegetables and remove stems
• cut out cookies from rolled dough, slice rolled cookies, scoop drop cookies
• crack eggs into separate containers
• decorate cakes and cupcakes with sprinkles and nonpareils
• load utensils and measuring cups into the dishwasher

Ages 7 to 9:

• all of the above, plus…
• measure all ingredients, both wet and dry
• frost cookies, cupcakes and cakes
• wipe down surfaces during the cooking process
• roll cookie, pie and pastry dough into different sizes
• load and unload the dishwasher
• separate egg whites and yolks into small dishes

Age 10 and Over:

• all of the above, plus…
• use small kitchen appliances like mixers, a food processor or blender
• chop fruits
• add/remove cookies sheets and pans from the oven
• use the stovetop to make sauces and ganache: stir, add ingredients, watch
• everything!

Things to remember:

Don't forget that all children are unique in their own way. What may be appropriate for one 5-year-old to do would frustrate another. Know your children's different skill levels and abilities and choose activities that will interest them and get them engaged without being burdensome and tiresome for them. Remember the goal is to have fun and create long-lasting, loving memories.

Photos by Shaina Olmanson

I had placed the box of vegetables from the market on the kitchen floor when my son, Jackson, who was two years old at the time, picked a giant red pepper and bit into it like an apple.

My first instinct was, “He is going to waste that, I better get it.” But then I figured if he was eating a vegetable – I wasn’t going to interrupt, nor complain about how he was eating it! Besides, when he tired of it, I could just slice up the parts he hadn’t eaten and use them with dinner. But to my surprise, my two year-old went on to eat most of the sweet pepper!

Ever since then, my kids have chomped into peppers like apples and eaten cucumbers whole. Sure, I slice them for them too. But if they want to grab a whole vegetable and start eating – who am I to get in between my children and a fresh vegetable? 

When we were at Cascadian Farm last month, Jackson picked a pepper and started chomping away. One of the PR team members was surprised, and remarked that she had never seen someone eat a pepper whole.

It got me thinking about veggies and some ways to make eating vegetables MORE FUN for kids!

1.       Hand it over whole – I remember eating carrots like Bugs Bunny when I was a kid, the green tail swinging while I did my best Bugs impression. My kids also love the freedom of eating their veggies whole. From peppers, to cucumbers, to carrots – skip the slicing and hand ‘em over whole! (And if your kids don’t finish the entire thing – no worries, you can take over. I bet you could use the extra veggies too.)

2.       Cut it cookie style – Grab some small cookie cutters and cut peppers into fun shapes. Just cut the pepper in half or thirds to get the pepper flat enough to cut into shapes. Kids will love making pepper cookies! (And you don’t have to worry about calories when eating the left over cookie scraps!)

3.       Pick it fresh – Even if you don’t have room for a vegetable garden, you can have fun growing and picking your own tomatoes from pots. My kids are never more excited to eat a vegetable than when they have grown and picked it themselves!

4.       Mix it up – Salads and salsas can be a great opportunity to let kids “make” their own food. To speed things up, you can pre-cut the produce and let your kids “build” their meal! Don’t forget that nuts, dried cranberries, and shredded cheese are great ways to spice up a salad and make it more kid-friendly.  And if you are making salsa – try adding corn or mangos! Your kids will love the different colors and flavours.

5.       Blend it in – If your kids aren’t buying it and they still wrinkle their noses at your veggie creations, you can always resort to pureeing vegetables and hiding them in their favorite foods. Your kids will never suspect that there is pureed cauliflower in their macaroni and cheese or pureed zucchini in their spaghetti sauce!

YOUR TURN: How do your kids eat their veggies? How have you made eating vegetables more “fun” for your children?

Photos by Janice Croze

“I never want to leave this place!” my eight year old son Jackson announced in the middle of the strawberry field, his fingers stained from picking and popping ripe berries in his mouth. “It is so fun -- even though it doesn’t have any rides... And it has the most delicious food in the world!”

Watching my kids run around Cascadian Farm, having a blast out in nature, eating fruits and veggies right off the vine, was simply beautiful.

Like Jackson said, they didn’t miss artificial flavors or thrills.

They were outside, with life stripped down to its essence and they were delighted by it all.

It is amazing how good food tastes when you pick and eat it, fresh from the earth.  It tastes like freedom, when you can drop it into your mouth without having to worry about pesticides or chemicals.

My kids not only had the chance to learn about organic and sustainable farming, they got the chance to taste the rewards.

We are home now, back to the routine of laptops, homework, and picking our peppers from the grocery store. But the time at the farm was a valuable lesson, an investment in my kids’ worldview. Every time I can, I want to teach and inspire my children to live sustainable, healthy lifestyles.

Thanks Cascadian Farm for a wonderful day – and for even arranging the sun to shine!

Your Turn: How do you get your kids to experience nature and healthy living? We would love to hear your tips!

Photos by Janice Croze

Their world includes recycling bins, organic fruit, and energy-efficient light bulbs. They won’t have to breathe second hand smoke in airplanes or install asbestos into building walls.

But not all of the ills of environmentally damaging behavior are behind us.

Our children will have to inherit the fight to clean up their world – and work hard to build a sustainable, healthier future for their planet.

I have to admit; sometimes I grow weary of the battle. Some days I want to throw the canned salmon tin in the trash instead of washing out the smell and putting it in my recycling bin. Often I reach past the organic produce for the more inexpensive option.

But I am convicted – not just for the world I want for myself, but for the world I want for my children and their children.

I am tired of the pesticides coating our fruit. I am sick that my son’s school has asbestos leaking out of its walls. And I am mad that lobbyists win over logic.

So I need to keep the passion for reform and healthy living alive in my children. I need to teach them about how far we have come and how far we have to go.

They have a long life of fixing our mistakes ahead of them.

Here are three ways that I try to inspire my children to be eco-conscious:

1. Learn from our mistakes.
Every time I say, “When I was your age...” I think of the old joke: “I had to walk to school uphill both ways!” It may seem like ancient history (and a pinch of urban legend) when we tell our kids about how life was decades ago, but teaching our kids about past generations' mistakes and how we have learned from them is critical.

2. Every little bit counts.
Fixing the damage humans have done to the environment is overwhelming for all of us! Kids can also feel like their contributions don’t matter much. Just as I try to remind myself, I talk to my kids about how our participation in environmental clean-up counts just as each person’s actions contributed to the problems.

3. The future looks brighter.
For all of us to keep inspired, we need to focus on the positives – on how far we have come and the better future that waits. Yes, there is much to be done. But our kids are being raised in a world of awareness and education. They are a generation that can and will change their world – for the better!

Photo by Janice Croze

During my latest trip to the San Diego Zoo with my 10 month old, I visited the “Children’s Zoo” area for the first time. As expected there is a Petting Zoo and a great playground, however there was also a cool exhibit that I didn’t expect, all about composting. I was so excited – I know, excited about trash, really? But I was! Composting is an important part of a sustainable lifestyle. Reusing waste and reducing the amount of trash that goes to the landfill helps keep our planet clean. Plus your garden will thrive when you “feed” the soil nutrient rich compost. I love the idea of teaching children about composting early on. It’s just another form of recycling, and if you grow up doing it becomes second nature.

The neat exhibit has colorful, kid-friendly displays that define the various types of composting and talk about “Compost Critters”, like worms. I’m sure little boys think the idea of a worm bin is very cool. It also describes (for children and adults, alike) how easy it is to make compost pile by providing a basic recipe. Start with your “ingredients”: “Browns” (twigs, wood chips, etc), “Greens” (fruit/vegetable scraps, garden trimmings), Water and Air. Layer the “browns” and “greens” as you add them to the pile; add water to keep moist. Add air by mixing the pile, then let it cook. Mix every week until it becomes black and crumbly – ready to add to your garden! It really is that simple.

Do you have a compost pile or worm bin? Do you involve your children in recycling and/or composting?

Photo by Kari Burks

Getting the kids outside (and excited) for a family “nature” walk might not always be the simplest task. So, if you are able to pull them from their video games and TV, you want to make sure that everyone has a great time!

I find a few simple tricks ensure that everyone enjoys the fresh air and the wild world waiting for us to explore...

1. There is magic in a mud puddle.
When you set off on your walk, don’t fixate on your destination. What your kids remember (and enjoy) the most might be found in the mud puddles or wild flowers they find along the way. Enjoy the journey – because with little ones in tow, you might not even make it to your “destination!”

2. Age matters.
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges to family outings is taking family members’ different ages into account. Try to plan your trip with age appropriate expectations. If little ones are coming along, keep the walk shorter with more “observation” time. An option is for one parent to lead a faster track, with one parent bringing up the rear. If you plan on splitting up, bring walkie talkies or cell phones that will allow you to stay in contact with each other.

3. Boys Scouts know what they are doing!
Being prepared is critical when heading out into the woods. Make sure you load on the sun block and bug spray, and pack supplies such as snacks, water, tissues, band-aids, compass, and bear-repellent. If you are planning a long hike or going into the back country, make sure you take emergency supplies, map, and let someone know your plans!

4. Count to five.
To keep my kids entertained or focused on a walk, I often suggest we make a list of five things. It can be to find five different kinds of leaves, five different sounds they can hear, or even just five things to report when we get back. One trip my son even included reporting to Dad that our puppy tried to eat horse manure! I am not picky – it made the kids laugh and fun is what it is all about!

5. Pack a camera – and not just for you!
If you have an older child, giving them a camera to take photos along the way will not only keep them interested, it can help them notice things they may otherwise miss. As well, it is a great way to see the world through their eyes when you look through their shots together after the trip is over.

BONUS TIP: Be flexible!!! As in every aspect of life and parenting, being flexible is usually the key to success! If the kids tire sooner than expected, if the bugs are biting too hard, or if no one is in the mood to find five things to collect – no worries! Focus on the positives and you will always have a great time together!

Photos by Janice Croze

My children are in perpetual motion.

My eight year old son slides down the stairs on his stomach, hits the bottom floor, grabs a ball and begins bouncing if off the walls. My two year old daughter climbs every surface she can find and wiggles off every chair I put her on.

Watching them, reminds me that children are designed to move.

But put on the television, or hand my son a video game, and they come to a complete stop – a dangerously, sedated stop. (I have to admit; sometimes it is a delicious stop for a tired mom!)

This generation of children is facing a new challenge – while life speeds up, our bodies are slowing down. We are sitting still, while technology moves for us.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not hating on technology. As I write this post, I am sitting in Starbucks, connected via Wi-Fi and typing on my laptop. I work online. I love technology. But I know its inherent dangers. And I know I have to work to counteract them.

With physical education programs cut back at schools across the country, homework loads increasing, and the constant temptation of video games, television and computers haunting our children as soon as the school dismissal bell rings, children are losing their natural state of activity and play. They simply aren’t moving enough.

And it isn’t hard to see the results. According to the American Heart Association, one-third of America’s children and teens are overweight or obese, nearly triple the rate in 1963. The increase in childhood obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels. There are also psychological effects. Obese children are more prone to low self-esteem, negative body image and depression. (www.heart.org)

So what should parents do? The world of computer screens, commuting, and long work days is the new reality. It is life in the 21^st century.

But we can’t give up. If we don’t want our children to be the first generation to have a shorter life span than their parents, we have to help our kids, and ourselves, get moving!

Don’t get overwhelmed though. We can do it -- even if we have to do it in baby steps.

7 Tips to Keep Kids Active

1. “Walk” to School – My son’s school started “Walk to School Wednesday.” Families are encouraged to walk to school and children get recognition in class for doing so. For those of us who live too far to walk, we simply park a few blocks from school and walk. The morning exercise helps get our children’s mind and body ready to face the long school day ahead of them.

2. Sign Them Up! – It drives me crazy that I have to taxi children to organized sports and it definitely is a strain on the family budget, but a regular schedule of after-school sports activities ensures that your children get the much needed physical activity they are missing during their school day.

3. Get a Dog – A dog is an additional member of the family and brings along extra stress and costs. But if a dog fits well in your family, it is a great way to encourage regular physical activity.

4. Family Walks – After dinner is a great time to relax and enjoy some much need family time. Establishing a regular evening walk time with your children will not only improve everyone’s health, but it helps build stronger relationships.

5. Activity Breaks – Most kids want to enjoy video games or TV at some points during the week. Encouraging short activity/exercise breaks during their screen time can refresh their bodies and minds.

6. Get Equipment – Put up a basketball hoop, buy a hockey net, get everyone baseball mitts and then PLAY with your kids!

7. Go Online for Resources – There are countless programs and ideas online to encourage healthier lifestyles. Check out the American Heart Association for tips on activities with kids, weight and stress management, nutrition and more. www.heart.org

Photos by Janice Croze

I don’t like bugs.

In fact, while my older sister encouraged her boys’ interest in insects and bought bug collecting kits, I did not. I steered my son away from insects and silently hoped he wouldn’t develop an appetite for bug hunting.

And to be honest, my aversion to insects sometimes impedes my enjoyment of the outdoors. There are a lot of bugs on a wilderness adventure!

But as long as I don’t have to be the one picking up the insects, (be proud of me though – on a preschool bug hunt, I picked up bugs with my bare hands for my troop!) I do try to spray on the natural bug repellent and get outdoors with my children.

Our family is fortunate to spend a week every year at summer camp and we get away a few times during the year to my family’s wilderness cabin where my kids have plenty of time to get down and dirty with nature.

And when we are at home, we have a wonderful green space behind our house that we play in every day with our dog. There are short trails through the brush where the kids climb through twigs and sticks and play “fort.”

But sometimes it can be a challenge to find quick, creative ways to get our kids out enjoying nature. We want to build an appreciation for the earth in our children and spending time exploring is often the best way!

As a working mother, I don’t have a lot of time for extensive preparation or day-long activities, so most days I have to work with what I have got – a dog, a small backyard and a green space.

We play in the dirt – I am not a big gardener, (remember I’m not fond of bugs,) but my two year old daughter loves to dig in the garden, fill and empty her water can, rake, etc, pretending to “garden.”

We picnic, play sports, and have lots of dog-play dates where neighbourhood dogs come and play with our dog.

We pick flowers and gather leaves. And we collect rocks – lots of rocks. (For some reason, kids love rocks!)

Recently I found a site called Nature Rocks that has a free summer activity guide and even an activity tool where you type in your time available, your location, (i.e. backyard, community or regional,) and the age of your children. It then offers you a list of creative ideas for you to get out into nature with your kids.

I am thrilled to have found Nature Rocks and I will be using it regularly to add some variation and creativity to our family’s playtime. And I bet as I do, I will get more comfortable with those bugs!

How do you incorporate nature exploration and appreciation into your children’s lives?

Photo by Janice Croze